Lucie to Appear on I Love Lucy-themed Will & Grace Episode!

[Neil]

On 3/11/2020 at 1:10 PM, Luvsbway said:

The episode is titled "We Love Lucy" and will air on March 26th. 

This doesn't show up on my March 26th Guide.  No W&G scheduled for that night.  "Superstore" instead.  I flipped ahead a week.  W&G scheduled for 9 but no plot description on the guide. 

With the departure of W&G and Modern Family and this being the last season of "Better Call Saul", I'm going to have to find some new friends.  There are shows  I catch a glimpse of that  look good like "Goldbergs" "The Middle", etc.  From the outside, they have a certain sameness about them.   Any recommendations?

It's 1998 all over again!!  When in one short period I lost "Seinfeld" "The Larry Sanders Show" "Ellen" and "Roseanne".  I was able to make new friends then and I'm sure I can do it again.   Have to admit I didn't watch Roseanne during that last Dan-less lottery-winning season,  and though I loved "Ellen"'s coming-out episodes (the main one, to her parents and to her boss), I found the subsequent "out" season a little dull.   My memory anyway.    

W&G: you left me once.  But against my better judgement, I let you back in and now you're doing it to me AGAIN!!  Does anyone know why it's going off?  It seems they're on a story line roll that they can't possibly wrap up in the few remaining episodes.   I'm amazed that the years between the W&Gs didn't change anything.   Especially how the cast looks.   Are the ratings bad?  I don't know how they can possibly tabulate ratings these days--what with DVR, streaming, etc.   Someone (Bob Hope, I think) once joked that Lucy reruns were everywhere to such an extent that he got them on his toaster.  Today that's really not far off, is it?

I liked the new Murphy Brown better than the original and was sorry to see it go.  "The Conners" carries on quite nicely without Rosanne.  "Roseanne" without Rosanne is the strangest thing since "Valerie" without Harper.  I knew nothing of the real Roseanne's personal politics so I could separate the two.  I wish they hadn't killed her off.  You'd think Roseanne would have some ownership in "The Conners".   Amazing the number of celebs booted out of show business in the last few years.  In 1953, had Lucy not been the huge star that she was, the whole Communistic thing would have killed the show.  People were blacklisted for a lot less, their careers ruined.  So ingrained was Lucy Ricardo in the public's eyes, she was able to hide behind that and the whole "grandpa forced us" story.   As one right-wing columnist put it:  "This Ball woman knew what she was doing.  In 1936 at age 24, she was hardly a "kid"."  The power-that-be sure cast a wide net with their inclusion of liberal minded causes being labeled subversive and "un-American", when the blacklisters themselves were the ones who were being un-American.  History tends to repeat itself.....There I go again: veering off topic. Sorry!

[Freddie2]

26 minutes ago, Neil said:

This doesn't show up on my March 26th Guide.  No W&G scheduled for that night.  "Superstore" instead.  I flipped ahead a week.  W&G scheduled for 9 but no plot description on the guide. 

With the departure of W&G and Modern Family and this being the last season of "Better Call Saul", I'm going to have to find some new friends.  There are shows  I catch a glimpse of that  look good like "Goldbergs" "The Middle", etc.  From the outside, they have a certain sameness about them.   Any recommendations?

It's 1998 all over again!!  When in one short period I lost "Seinfeld" "The Larry Sanders Show" "Ellen" and "Roseanne".  I was able to make new friends then and I'm sure I can do it again.   Have to admit I didn't watch Roseanne during that last Dan-less lottery-winning season,  and though I loved "Ellen"'s coming-out episodes (the main one, to her parents and to her boss), I found the subsequent "out" season a little dull.   My memory anyway.    

W&G: you left me once.  But against my better judgement, I let you back in and now you're doing it to me AGAIN!!  Does anyone know why it's going off?  It seems they're on a story line roll that they can't possibly wrap up in the few remaining episodes.   I'm amazed that the years between the W&Gs didn't change anything.   Especially how the cast looks.   Are the ratings bad?  I don't know how they can possibly tabulate ratings these days--what with DVR, streaming, etc.   Someone (Bob Hope, I think) once joked that Lucy reruns were everywhere to such an extent that he got them on his toaster.  Today that's really not far off, is it?

I liked the new Murphy Brown better than the original and was sorry to see it go.  "The Conners" carries on quite nicely without Rosanne.  "Roseanne" without Rosanne is the strangest thing since "Valerie" without Harper.  I knew nothing of the real Roseanne's personal politics so I could separate the two.  I wish they hadn't killed her off.  You'd think Roseanne would have some ownership in "The Conners".   Amazing the number of celebs booted out of show business in the last few years.  In 1953, had Lucy not been the huge star that she was, the whole Communistic thing would have killed the show.  People were blacklisted for a lot less, their careers ruined.  So ingrained was Lucy Ricardo in the public's eyes, she was able to hide behind that and the whole "grandpa forced us" story.   As one right-wing columnist put it:  "This Ball woman knew what she was doing.  In 1936 at age 24, she was hardly a "kid"."  The power-that-be sure cast a wide net with their inclusion of liberal minded causes being labeled subversive and "un-American", when the blacklisters themselves were the ones who were being un-American.  History tends to repeat itself.....There I go again: veering off topic. Sorry!

Even though they're both also ending this year, I'd recommend Schitt's Creek and The Good Place to anyone. As for Will & Grace ending, apparently there's been drama between its two leading ladies and the ratings for the past two years have been absolutely crummy. If I recall correctly, NBC renewed the show for an additional two seasons before its first revival season had even premiered. Last year there were episodes of Murphy Brown that had double the viewership of Will & Grace so yes, I'm still salty about it getting the axe. It sounds like Les Moonves was the biggest factor in bringing the show back, so had he not been (rightfully) ousted, I'd wager that we'd be seeing season twelve of Murphy this year. It's weird that someone so associated with misogyny and alpha male crime shows that dissect hookers every week would be a big fan of such a feminist show.

And on Lucy and communism; I always assumed that the "grandpa made me do it" story was true. Did she actually align with the Communist party at some point in her life? 

[Luvsbway]

6 hours ago, Freddie2 said:

 

And on Lucy and communism; I always assumed that the "grandpa made me do it" story was true. Did she actually align with the Communist party at some point in her life? 

No, she didn't. It's just more of a "you weren't 18 registering to vote for the first time. You were a full fledged adult with a career and should have seen how this might not have been the best thing to do."  

Lucy was a smart women. But also very trusting of others. She said she'd sign contracts and studio things she needed to without reading if she saw Desi had. Now then she was in her 40s. But we all did things in our 20s when we were young and dumb. This was hers. Thankfully Desi worked his ass off to get that Communist thing to blow over.

[Mot Morenzi]

Though the creative team insists the show is coming to its natural end, rumours of a feud between Debra Messing and Megan Mullally seem to have some truth in them. Mullally did an interview a few months back where she spoke of an unnamed "bully" at work who had turned others against her. Take this with a grain of salt, obviously, but one tabloid suggested Megan regretted bringing the show back. 

I haven't watched any of this season, but it's widely reported Mullally has been largely isolated from the rest of the cast onscreen and even skipped two episodes - have either of those aired yet?

I lost interest in the show middle of last season and haven't tuned back in since. With a few exceptions, I was finding the episodes more painful than funny. A rewatch of the original 8 seasons didn't help - I enjoyed them more when I was younger than I do now.

[Luvsbway]

3 minutes ago, Mot Morenzi said:

Though the creative team insists the show is coming to its natural end, rumours of a feud between Debra Messing and Megan Mullally seem to have some truth in them. Mullally did an interview a few months back where she spoke of an unnamed "bully" at work who had turned others against her. Take this with a grain of salt, obviously, but one tabloid suggested Megan regretted bringing the show back. 

I haven't watched any of this season, but it's widely reported Mullally has been largely isolated from the rest of the cast onscreen and even skipped two episodes - have either of those aired yet?

I lost interest in the show middle of last season and haven't tuned back in since. With a few exceptions, I was finding the episodes more painful than funny. A rewatch of the original 8 seasons didn't help - I enjoyed them more when I was younger than I do now.

When the beginning of this season started with, we're all having babies, I yelled a big "why?" At the screen. Really not liking the plots this season. First season of the reboot wasn't bad. This, I'm just hanging in for something to watch. 

[Mot Morenzi]

Freddie commented a little while back that the Lucy tribute sounded like the show was running out of ideas. I'm looking forward to the episode but agree with that assessment. It'll be worth it just to see Lucie play Elvia Allman's part, but why spend one of your precious final episodes not wrapping up your own story? 

[Neil]

13 hours ago, Luvsbway said:

No, she didn't. It's just more of a "you weren't 18 registering to vote for the first time. You were a full fledged adult with a career and should have seen how this might not have been the best thing to do."  

Lucy was a smart women. But also very trusting of others. She said she'd sign contracts and studio things she needed to without reading if she saw Desi had. Now then she was in her 40s. But we all did things in our 20s when we were young and dumb. This was hers. Thankfully Desi worked his ass off to get that Communist thing to blow over.

The communist party in the 30s was  legitimate and accepted political party that focused on workers' rights.   It was a fringe party and no one affiliated ever got elected (that I know of).  The equivalent today is probably along the lines of the  "green party", socialism and libertarians.  The party was not demonized until after WW2.   Lucy's "Meet the People" would not have been made 5 years later.   Anything critical of any aspect of the considerable downside of capitalism was considered suspect.   In the 50s, communism became synonomous with dictatorships and fascism, "un-American" and pure EVIL.   I do believe the grandpa thing.  His heart was certainly in the right place.  Lots of people were not political and I think Lucy was one of them.  No one who registered communist in the 30s thought it would have the stigma it would have in the 50s.  As always, follow the money.  Communism doesn't work in practice because of greed and corruption at the top.  But isn't that true of just about everything?

And a nod to the topic: I disagree with the negative assessments of Will & Grace.  I do agree that introducing the baby thing this late in the game wasn't necessary.  Is Debra pregnant in real life?

[HarryCarter]

NBC has announced the episode will air April 9. 
 

"WILL & GRACE"

"WE LOVE LUCY"

ORIGINAL

04/09/2020 (09:00PM - 09:30PM) (Thursday) : Will claims living with Grace is like Ricky living with Lucy. When Karen and Jack hear this, they each claim that they are the Lucy of the group. Grace, Karen, and Jack each imagine themselves as Lucy (during “Vitameatavegamin,” “Chocolate Factory,” and “Grape-Stomping”), with Will as the Ricky to all of them. Lucie Arnaz and Leslie Jordan guest star.

 

[Luvsbway]

Thanks. I didn't see that they had an episode at all on this week. 

Oh, who is Leslie going to be?

[Mot Morenzi]

6 hours ago, Luvsbway said:

Thanks. I didn't see that they had an episode at all on this week. 

Oh, who is Leslie going to be?

I wonder if he'll be the other grape stomper. Apparently Megan Mullally is doing that scene. 

[JoeySanJoaquin]

It sure won't be with Messing!

[Mot Morenzi]

2 hours ago, JoeySoCal said:

It sure won't be with Messing!

They'd have killed each other.

[JoeySanJoaquin]

17 hours ago, Mot Morenzi said:

They'd have killed each other.

Right?? Sure would like to know what went down re: their falling out....puts kind of a bad "aftertaste" to the show going off... hope this wasn't the reason why!

[Mot Morenzi]

6 hours ago, JoeySoCal said:

Right?? Sure would like to know what went down re: their falling out....puts kind of a bad "aftertaste" to the show going off... hope this wasn't the reason why!

All the "official" sources claim it was simply the show coming to its natural end, although that sounds very PR to me. The low ratings and possible disharmony must've played some role in the decision. 

[HarryCarter]

New photos!

https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Photo-Flash-WILL-GRACE-Loves-Lucy-See-New-Photos-From-the-Set-20200401

[HarryCarter]

On 3/20/2020 at 11:07 PM, Mot Morenzi said:

Freddie commented a little while back that the Lucy tribute sounded like the show was running out of ideas. I'm looking forward to the episode but agree with that assessment. It'll be worth it just to see Lucie play Elvia Allman's part, but why spend one of your precious final episodes not wrapping up your own story? 

According to Will & Grace creator Max Mutchnick, NBC Entertainment head Robert Greenblatt requested this episode when they had their first meeting about the reboot in 2016. 

[RodMcK1]

They made Fred too fat.

[Luvsbway]

Behind the Scenes sneak peak.

https://tvline.com/2020/04/02/will-grace-i-love-lucy-season-11-episode-16-video/

[Mot Morenzi]

2 hours ago, HarryCarter said:

According to Will & Grace creator Max Mutchnick, NBC Entertainment head Robert Greenblatt requested this episode when they had their first meeting about the reboot in 2016. 

Ah. I suppose they had their reasons for waiting until the end to do it.

1 hour ago, RodMcK1 said:

They made Fred too fat.

A lot of Lucy parodies have a tendency to do that, I've noticed.

14 minutes ago, Luvsbway said:

Behind the Scenes sneak peak.

https://tvline.com/2020/04/02/will-grace-i-love-lucy-season-11-episode-16-video/

Very interesting. Nice to see the recreations are in B&W, I'll admit. Lucie looks delightful!

[Freddie2]

I can't remember if other homages have done it consistently, but I really like that the apartment has the light shining through the windows on the back walls. It's a little touch like that that tells you this is coming from genuine fans.

[HarryCarter]

 

[Mot Morenzi]

6 hours ago, HarryCarter said:

 

It's such a joy seeing Lucie back in action on a sitcom set! I'd love to see her get another show of her own. 

[tropicjeff]

Here's a Youtube preview. I have never watched this show but will be watching this next week! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwObjo7TtHE&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0bnpPyabq61TYAat9A70uDAkAEt729mAiJLgR3vXCdw0MDqvld-uJxakY

[Mot Morenzi]

Here's an embedded version:

 

[Mot Morenzi]

Official promo: